police

Article written by Newark Evening News reporter Hy Kuperstein on the shooting of Lester Long by Newark Patrolman Henry Martinez. Kuperstein conducted an interview with Martinez at the precinct after the shooting and reported that Martinez said he lost his balance as he got out of the car with his gun drawn. ‘The gun suddenly went off,’ Martinez is quoted. ‘I wasn’t trying to shoot him but he was hit.’ When the official police report came out, this detail was contradicted and Martinez claimed that he dliberately fired at Long. The shooting of Lester Long was one of the most well-known and contentious cases of alleged police brutality in Newark during the 1960s and reinvigorated demands for a police review board. — Credit: Junius Williams Papers

Flyer distributed by the Newark branch of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) announcing a rally to protest the killing of Lester Long by Newark policeman Henry Martinez. The shooting of Lester Long was one of the most well-known and contentious cases of alleged police brutality in Newark during the 1960s and reinvigorated community demands for a police review board. — Credit: Junius Williams Papers

Constitution and By-Laws for Newark Police Precinct Councils. The precinct councils were established as an alternative to a “police advisory board,” which Mayor Addonizio rejected in April 1963. According to the article, Addonizio said “the councils are to tell citizens that the police are their friends.” Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Newsclipping from an unmarked paper on June 26, 1963 covering the establishment of “police precinct councils” by Mayor Addonizio and Police Director Dominick Spina. The precinct councils were established as an alternative to a “police advisory board,” which Mayor Addonizio rejected in April 1963. According to the article, Addonizio said “the councils are to tell citizens that the police are their friends.” Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Report from Newark Human Rights Commission Director Daniel Anthony on a conference with Mayor Addonizio, Dominick Spina, and Norman Schiff on May 22, 1963. The conference was called by Addonizio to discuss ways of improving cooperation between the Commission and City Hall in the wake of the Mayor’s rejection of a “police advisory board,” which the Commission supported. Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Editorial from an unmarked newsclipping carrying a statement released by the newly-formed Citizens Police Advisory Committee. The Committee, formed in response to Mayor Addonizio’s rejection of a police advisory board, was proposed as an unofficial and independent organization to hear complaints of police misconduct.The statement makes reference to a petition organized by George Richardson which collected 18,000 signatures requesting the formation of an official police advisory board. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Article by Doug Eldridge of the Newark Evening News covering Mayor Addonizio’s public announcement rejecting a propsed “police advisory board.” A review board ‘would serve no useful purpose and could conceivably be a detriment to efficient law enforcement,’ Mayor Addonizio said in his statement. Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Editorial from an unmarked newspaper in 1963 regarding the controversy over a proposed police advisory board. Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Letter to the Editor of the Newark Evening News on March 21, 1963 from William Mercer regarding the controversy over a proposed police advisory board. Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Letter to the Editor of the Newark Evening News on March 27, 1963 from Essex County Fraternal Order of Police president, Leonard Kowalewski, regarding the controversy over a proposed police advisory board. Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library